The statement issued by the committee stated that at first the party failed to tackle the campaign against the Left Front government’s industrialisation programme. “We failed to rebut the Opposition’s lies and falsehoods with proper statistics and data,” the statement said.

Second, the Opposition had succeeded in creating confusion over the land acquisition issue. Third, despite ensuring people’s participation in the functioning of the panchayat, there had been local shortcomings that the party had failed to redress. Fourth, the lack of unity within the Left Front damaged its credibility.

“However, the state committee feels that the reversals are not permanent and can be dealt with,” the statement said.

The chief minister, meanwhile, has reportedly decided to urge Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to amend the Land Acquisition Act of 1894 and ensure a better compensation for those whose land is acquired. After the Nandigram police firing last year, the state had written to the Centre requesting an amendment to the Act.

“More than landowners, landless labourers and unrecorded sharecroppers are affected by land acquisition. We must address their concerns. This is why the Act needs to be amended,” Bhattacharjee is reported to have said. The party has asked its 26,000-odd branch committees across the state to discuss the reasons for the people’s dissatisfaction with the government and a report to the effect will be prepared by July-end.

“We will then be able to give a clear picture,” said the CPM state secretary Biman Bose.